Cardboard container

ABSTRACT

It comprises a base sheet, two side walls, two front walls with lateral laps extending therefrom and separated by folding lines, and two reinforcement front walls independent from the base sheet and attached to the front walls. Each reinforcement front wall being composed of a central sheet laterally divided by three folding lines which define a prismatic reinforcement portion with a hollow inside. It also comprises reinforcement supports which are introduced into the hollows of the reinforcement portions, ventilation openings for the products contained, and internal folds in the edges of the side walls of the box which facilitate its handling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cardboard container for the transportand storage of products that is designed to provide a consistent andreinforced structure.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Cardboard boxes are known from several embodiments which contemplatetheir construction starting from a stamped sheet mainly comprising therectangular base, the side walls or larger sides and the front walls orshorter sides, with longitudinal or lateral extensions of these sidesbeing provided in certain cases in order to define boxes with differentshapes.

Boxes are frequently used which have double front walls made up of thefront wall itself and its longitudinal extension which also extendsupwards and which, once conveniently folded inwards, defines said doublewall and guarantees the reinforcement of this sector, said longitudinalextension generally being provided with side laps that attach to theside face, thereby facilitating the cardboard assembly.

In the present case, certain embodiments are contemplated wherein saidlongitudinal laps may be divided into several sectors which, onceconveniently folded, constitute corner reinforcements which allow forimproved piling up conditions for the boxes. The folding of theselongitudinal extension corner sectors and their attachment to the restof the box normally involves a certain complexity.

On the other hand, for specific box dimensions, certain problems ariseduring the manufacturing process as a result of the limitations imposedby the cardboard box plasticizing stage.

Obtaining a carboard box which solves the above problems byincorporating reinforcement side walls which have previously been formedindependently from the cardboard sheet, of a size and shape adapted tothe container itself, makes the invention proposed hereunder feasible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cardboard container object of this invention is designed to providea consistent and reinforced structure.

It is the main object of this invention the inclusion of a reinforcementfront wall that is independent from the initial box configurating sheet,said reinforcement front wall having prismatic extensionscorrespondingly located in the box corners to enhance the piling upstrength.

It is another object of this invention that the box should be fittedwith ventilation holes for the products contained, and internal folds inthe edges of the side walls which facilitate its handling.

It is also another object of the invention that the cardboard should beprovided with independent reinforcement supports, located in the innerhollow space of the prismatic extensions, designed to improve piling upconditions under special circumstances.

The cardboard container which is the object of the invention is composedof a stamped sheet provided with several folding lines which define theside or larger walls and the front or shorter walls, and correspondingindependent reinforcement front walls adhered to the front walls afterassembly in a manner that they become perfectly integrated to theoverall container, said reinforcement front walls being provided withprismatic portions which enhance the piling up strength of the box.

The container front wall extends laterally to form respective side lapswhich fold and adhere onto the inner face of the side walls, each lapbeing provided with an oblique cut in its vertex which defines an edgethat coincides with the slanting edge of the oblique cut in the sidewall when assembled.

The reinforcement front wall is made up of a central sheet with threefolding lines along each of its sides which define two sectors, i.e. aninner and an outer sector, the upper edges of which are slightly raisedin respect to the edge of the central sheet and from whose outer sectorsubsequently extend corresponding lateral lap which reveal a slightstaggering along their upper edge, which lap extend on a lower level upto the oblique zone corresponding to the vertex.

Both these sectors, that is, the inner and outer sector, fold inwards todefine prismatic reinforcement portions which enhance the piling upstrength.

This preformed configuration serves as the basis for performing thesubsequent folds of the reinforcement front wall, until it is fitted inthe box, so that the inner sector is positioned transversely in thecorner and the outer sector is adhered to the raised zone in the laterallap of the reinforcement front wall itself.

When assembling the reinforcement front wall over the front wall, thecentral sheet of the former is adhered over the latter, the prismaticportions projecting upwards in respect to the upper edge of the frontwall, the reinforcement front wall lateral laps adhering over the innerface of the front wall lateral laps, and the vertical lateral edge ofthe reinforcement front wall lap abutting in this position against thefolded sector of the side wall.

The side walls present respective cuts in the shape of an equilateraltriangle between whose vertices extends a folding line, parallel towhich, and running outwards, run two other folding lines which definethree sectors, the first of which, located between the innermost foldinglines, constitutes the upper lateral edge of the box being assembled;the second sector is likewise slantingly folded inwards; and the thirdsector is adhered to the side wall, thus forming side holding means thatcan be easily grasped and enable the box to be held and/or transported.

The base sheet presents triangular cuts in each corner which coincidewith the position of the prismatic portions and are designed tofacilitate the piling up of the boxes, and furthermore incorporatesopenings shaped as a rhombus in the line separating the side wall fromthe base sheet which allow for the ventilation of the products containedin the box.

The front walls, as well as the reinforcement front walls, containpartially circular central cutouts along their upper edge which allowthe box to be handled with ease.

Reinforcement supports, preferably made of plastic, are incorporated forspecial piling up requirements which comprise triangular columnsincorporated to the hollow space defined inside the prismatic portionsof the corners.

These reinforcement supports extend between the upper and lower edges ofthe box and are shaped in a manner that an ample upper sector of aconstant hollow triangular section is provided which constitutes thefemale portion and receives the reinforcement support of the box piledabove it, and another lower, compact and likewise triangular sector of asmaller surface which acts as the male portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to complement the description set forth and help toward abetter understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a set ofdrawings is attached to this specification, being an integral partthereof, wherein the following is illustrated with a non-limitingcharacter:

FIG. 1 shows the various reinforcement front wall folding stages.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the base sheet on which the reinforcementfront walls are to be mounted.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of a sector of the box whereon thereinforcement front walls are already mounted.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the reinforcement support incorporatedto the inner hollow space of the prismatic portions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the light of these figures, it is apparent that the cardboardcontainer which is the object of the invention is formed from a basesheet (1) which presents side walls (2) and front walls (3) with laterallaps (4), and respective reinforcement front walls (5) independent fromthe base sheet (1) which are attached to the front walls (3) of the box.

The reinforcement front walls (5) being composed of a central sheet (6)laterally divided by three folding lines which define two sectors,namely an inner (7) and an outer (8) sector, said outer sector (8)having a lap (9) extending therefrom.

Said lap presents a slight staggering of their upper edge up to a levelbelow in which an oblique cut is located in correspondence to an uppervertex of the lap.

It being foreseen that the inner (7) and outer (8) sectors form, uponassembling the reinforcement front wall (5), a prismatic reinforcementsection which enhances the piling up strength, the inner sector (7)being positioned in the corner in an oblique arrangement, and the outersector (8) being adhered to the zone which presents the upper step ofthe lap (9).

Upon mounting the assembly, the central sheet (6) of the reinforcementfront wall (5) is adhered to the front wall (3), and lap (9) of thereinforcement front wall (5) adheres to the inner face of the laterallap (4) of front wall (3), the external side of which is attached to theinner face of side wall (2), the prismatic portions formed by sectors(7) and (8) projecting upwards.

The side walls (2) present respective cuts (12) extending inwards fromtheir upper edge and shaped as an equilateral triangle between whosevertices extends a folding line (13) parallel to which two other foldinglines (14) and (15) run outwards, thus defining three sectors, the firstof which, located between the inner folding lines (13) and (14),constitutes the upper lateral edge (16) of the box; the next sector (17)is likewise slantingly folded inwards; and the following sector (18) isadhered to the inner face of front wall (2).

The base sheet (1) shows triangular cuts (10) in each corner thereofwhich coincide with the position of the prismatic reinforcement portionsand are designed to facilitate the piling up of the boxes.

Furthermore, said sheet presents, along the line separating the sidewall (2) from the base, respective openings (11) shaped like a rhombuswhich allow for the ventilation of the products contained in the box.

Also, it must be pointed out that the front walls (3), coinciding withthe reinforcement front walls (5), are provided with partially circularcentral cutouts (11) along their upper edge which allow the box to behandled with ease.

For special piling up requirements, reinforcement supports or columns(19) are optionally provided which coincide in length with the height ofthe hollow spaces (20) of the prismatic portions, said supports (19)being shaped to have an ample upper sector (19') of a constant hollowtriangular section which constitutes the female portion designed toreceive the reinforcement support of the box piled above it, and anotherlower, compact and likewise triangular sector (19") with a surfacesmaller than that of the upper sector, which acts as the male portion.

This description need not be more extensive for the expert on thesubject to understand the scope of the invention and the advantagesderiving therefrom.

The materials, the shape, the size and the arrangement of the elementsare liable to changes provided the essence of the invention is notaltered.

I claim:
 1. A cardboard container for the transport and storage ofproducts which comprises:a base sheet with, two side walls, two frontwalls with lateral laps, extending therefrom and separated by foldinglines, two reinforcement front walls independent from the base sheet andattached to said front walls,each reinforcement front wall beingcomposed of a central sheet laterally divided by three folding lineswhich define an inner sector, an outer sector, and a lap extending fromsaid outer sector, said lap consists on an inner zone and an outer zone,said inner zone presents its upper edge staggered up to a level belowcorresponding to said outer zone, said inner sector being positioned inan oblique arrangement and said outer sector being adhered to said innerzone of said lap, forming a prismatic reinforcement portion with ahollow inside.
 2. A cardboard container according to claim 1, whereinsaid outer zone of the lap incorporates an oblique cut located incorrespondence to an upper vertex of said lap.
 3. A cardboard containeraccording to claim 1, wherein said central sheet of the reinforcementfront wall is adhered to the front wall,said lap of the reinforcementfront wall adheres to the inner face of the lateral lap of front wall,and the outer face of the lateral lap of front wall is attached to theinner face of side wall.
 4. A cardboard container according to claim 1,wherein the prismatic portions formed by the inner sector and the outersector project upwards above the upper edge of the front walls.
 5. Acardboard container according to claim 1, wherein the side walls presentrespective cuts extending inwards from their upper edge and shaped toform an equilateral triangle between whose vertices extends an innerline parallel to which an intermediate and an outer folding lines andrun outwards, thus defining three sectors, the first of which, containedbetween the inner folding line and the intermediate folding lineconstitutes the upper lateral edge of the box; the next sector containedbetween the inner folding line and the intermediate folding line islikewise slantingly folded inwards; and the following sector containedbetween the intermediate folding line and the outer folding line isadhered to the inner face of side wall, thus providing a mean forholding and transporting the container.
 6. A cardboard containeraccording to claim 1 wherein the base sheet comprises triangular cuts ineach of the corners thereof which coincide with the position of theprismatic portions for facilitating the piling up of the boxes.
 7. Acardboard container according to claim 1 wherein reinforcement supportsare introduced into the hollows of the reinforcement portions,saidreinforcement supports coincide in length with the height of the hollowof the prismatic portions, said reinforcement supports being shaped tohavean ample upper sector of a constant hollow triangular section whichconstitutes the female portion designed to receive another reinforcementsupport of the box to be piled above it, and another lower, compact andtriangular sector with a surface smaller than that of the upper sector,which acts as the male portion.
 8. A cardboard container according toclaim 1 wherein the front walls, coinciding with the reinforcement frontwalls, are provided with partially circular central cutouts along theirupper edge which allow the box to be handled with ease.
 9. A cardboardcontainer according to claim 1 wherein the folding lines that separatethe side wall from the base sheet are provided with openings in the formof a rhombus which allow for the ventilation of the products containedin the box.